The Great Condescension

To the extent that we really celebrate Christmas as being about the birth of Jesus (as opposed to a generally cheerful holiday time for friends and family -- not that there's anything wrong with those things), then we are celebrating the Great Condescension. The stepping down from heaven by God Himself to become man, beginning in most ignoble fashion the march to death in Jerusalem.

Generally, if you are condescending, it carries an air of talking or acting down to someone in a negative way. You, the high and lofty are stepping down from on high to speak to the lowly scum you'd otherwise ignore. The very word speaks of descending to be "with" (con - think "chili con queso" - chili with cheese). Among people who consider themselves peers, this then says that you consider yourself too highly.

I have before heard that condescending is, in its way, a beautiful model for Christians. Just as God condescended to serve us, so we should condescend to serve others. But that, in a way, misses the point. God may justly condescend because He is, well, God. But I cannot condescend to serve another in need. Not because I can't serve, but because doing so requires no step down.

Too often, we serve from a position of "out of my great and glorious bounty, I give to you - the weak and lowly." Too often, I serve from that position. But in reality, we ought to "in humility, consider others better than ourselves." We serve, not as the benificent distributors of grace, but as wretched sinnes, bought with a price, and serving our Master.

I cannot condescend to help the starving, the homeless, the lonely, or the hurting. To serve them requires a conascension - in giving but a drink of water, a bite of food to "the least of these," I am stepping up to serve no less than Christ Himself!

So, as we celebrate the Great Condescension, honor the stepping down of God by stepping up in grateful service.